The Kraken
The pitch-black spiced rum in the bottle with two handles and the squid on the label. Everything about the ABV, spices, mixers and the glass that goes with it.
Black rum with a sea monster on the label
The Kraken is a black spiced rum: Caribbean rum to which a blend of spices and molasses is added after aging, giving it its deep-black color and sweet, spicy flavor. The brand is named after the kraken, the sea monster from Scandinavian sailors' tales that was said to drag entire ships into the depths.
The name runs through the entire design. The bottle is modeled after a Victorian rum bottle with two handles, so it would not tip over aboard a ship, and the label shows a squid gripping a sailing ship. The brand keeps the exact contents of the spice blend to itself; in practice, you mainly taste caramel, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and vanilla.
In brief
The Kraken and other spiced rums
The Kraken has one standard bottle plus a special release from time to time. These spiced rums are the logical comparison.
The Kraken Black Spiced
The standard bottle: pitch-black, full-bodied and spicy, with caramel, cinnamon and ginger. At 40%, considerably more robust than most spiced rums.
The Kraken Deep Sea Diver
The same rum in a specially designed bottle from the brand's limited-edition series. Mainly a bottle to give as a gift or keep.
Captain Morgan Black Spiced
Captain Morgan's black spiced rum, also at 40%. Slightly drier and less sweet than The Kraken, with more emphasis on oak.
Captain Morgan Spiced Gold
The Netherlands' best-selling spiced rum: lighter, sweeter, and at 35% ABV considerably more approachable than the black bottles.
The Kraken if you want something full-bodied and spicy; Spiced Gold if you're looking for something lighter.
Caramel, cinnamon, and a generous dose of ginger
Caramel & spices
Sweet caramel and molasses, topped with cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. It smells almost like speculaas.
Full and spicy
Thick and full-bodied, with caramel, vanilla, and warm spices. Sweet, but not bland thanks to the ginger and cloves.
Long and warm
A warm, spicy finish with ginger and a slightly bitter edge from the molasses. Lingers for a long time.
Flavor profile of The Kraken Black Spiced Rum. Captain Morgan Spiced Gold is sweeter and lighter, and scores lower on spice and strength.
Three ways to drink The Kraken
A 40% ABV spiced rum needs a mixer that can hold its own. Ginger is the best choice for that: it cuts right through the sweetness.
With ginger beer
50 ml The Kraken with 150 ml of ginger beer over plenty of ice in a highball glass, with a generous lime wedge. The spicy ginger and the rum's warm spices reinforce each other; this is the combination the brand itself also promotes.
Dark 'n Stormy recipe →With cola and lime
5 cl with 150 ml of cola over plenty of ice, with a lime wedge that you squeeze in first. The cola highlights the caramel; the lime keeps everything fresh rather than syrupy.
Cuba Libre recipe →On the rocks
5 cl over one large ice cube in a heavy tumbler, optionally with an orange peel. This lets you taste the spices most clearly, while the melting ice gradually softens it.
Glass: tumbler →The best cocktails with The Kraken
Dark 'n Stormy
Dark rum with ginger beer and lime. Made for a rum like this.
Cuba Libre
Rum with cola and fresh lime. Spicier with spiced rum than with white rum.
Painkiller
Rum with pineapple, orange, coconut, and nutmeg. Warm spices with tropical fruit.
Zombie
Multiple rums, citrus, and spices. Infamously strong, and that's the point.The right glass for The Kraken
A tall highball glass or a copper mule mug for the ginger combination, and a heavy tumbler for on the rocks. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about The Kraken
Is your question not listed? Check out our cocktail recipes or contact us.
To the cocktail recipes →